Reviews
The Crown Jewel of My Collection
"Having owned more than 60 high-end headphones, I can confidently say that the Abyss 1266 Phi TC reigns supreme. From the moment I put them on, I was blown away by their sheer power and precision. The bass is simply unmatched—deep, authoritative, and visceral, yet astonishingly controlled. It's the kind of low-end that you don’t just hear, but feel. As an owner of the Abyss Diana V2, I can say the 1266 Phi TC feels like a perfected, deeper version of it—taking everything great about the Diana V2 and refining it to an even more immersive experience. Some people struggle with adjusting the headband, but for me, it was flawless right out of the box. The factory adjustment fit me perfectly, allowing for an instant connection with the headphones, both physically and sonically. Even compared to my Susvara, which I hold in high regard, the 1266 Phi TC delivers a more engaging and dynamic presentation. There’s a sense of physicality to the sound that makes every listening session immersive, whether it’s the punch of a kick drum or the resonance of a cello. The soundstage? Expansive. The detail retrieval? Flawless. These headphones are not just an audio device—they’re an experience. If you’re after uncompromising sound quality with a bass response that defies expectations, the Abyss 1266 Phi TC is, without question, for you! I'm adding a picture of this weeks favorite flavors ; )"
— William B. (5/5)
The absolute best for electronic music
"I got these as complement to my Susvaras. My music library mostly consists of simple acoustic music but I also quite enjoy electronic and metal music and while the Susvaras are great, I miss a bit of bass energy and impact with those genres. I've seen a lot of people praise the 1266 for it's bass and I have to say that it does not disappoint. The bass is full and authoritative yet it does not impact the rest of the frequency response. The highs are still detailed and the presentation is very resolving, on par with the Susvaras. The mids are pretty good but not as natural as the Susvaras presentation. The build of these is also exceptional, they feel very sturdy in the hand and the 10 year warranty offered by Abyss speaks to their confidence in their build. My only gripe with the 1266 other than the slight wonkiness in the mids is the comfort. These are quite heavy and don't really sit on the head like traditional headphones. It takes a bit of time and experimenting to get the pads dialed in right. This is with the stock old leather pads so I'm hoping the newer pads improve the comfort once they arrive. All in all, these are pretty fantastic headphones and worthy of their TOTL status."
— Juanita E. (5/5)
Great for Rap and R&B
"I was skeptical of these headphones but decided to give them a shot. Wow! I listen to many genres but these are the best headphones for rap and R&B that I've ever heard!"
— Michael E. (5/5)
The best!
"These are the best headphones I have heard out of everything I've tried so far!"
— Jonathan M. (5/5)
nothing like it
"Best headphone in the world IMHO.- certainly for modern genres. Power, sonic density, detail, soundstage, visceral punch like none other."
— Steven R. (5/5)
With the right amplifier and power, this headphone is unmatched…
"Can only agree with the majority of the reviews here. I have Focal Utopias, Sennheiser HD800’s and Meze Empyreans. They are no match for the 1266’s. Using with my Woo WA33, mind blowing transparency and detail. Upgraded to the SC cable, brings out even more density to the already excellent sound from this headphone."
— Matt (5/5)
Audio bliss from Abyss
"It's hard to describe the performance of the 1266 Phi-TC in words that are adequate. This headphone offers unreal audio quality that is unmatched in the industry. I had trouble with the fit and comfort of the Diana V2, but the 1266 is an absolute home-run in this regard. Although the fit takes some time to dial in properly, and the way the ear cups sit (without a seal) seems counterintuitive, the resulting sound staging, imaging, and over all detail reproduction is beyond words. I'm ecstatic with my purchase, even considering price, and would only buy from HeadAmp due to their generous return policy and high level of customer service. If you're on the fence about this product, please take a chance and give it a shot....I'm sure you won't ever look back!"
— Ryan W. (5/5)
A true masterpiece reference headphone
"Having owned more 'top flight' cans, systems, in all possible iterations & configurations ('static, planer, dynamic, etc.) than I care to admit - to MY ears at least, these raise the bar by quite a margin. Electrostatic-like quickness and detail, while still retaining incredible micro & macro dynamics. Instrument and vocal timbre and are spot-on, incredible imaging, bass clarity and impact - what more could be wanted? As long as you have the up-stream electronics to match, the Phi TC's are a true transparent window INTO the recording. BRAVO Abyss!"
— Denf (5/5)
TOTL Headphone
"Ever since the start of the pandemic I started to invest in my listening station. After a long day of work I look forward to sitting down and unwinding listening to some music before going to sleep. In order to not disturb the rest of the family, a set of reference headphones made sense. Knowing myself, I knew upgraditis was going to hit me hard so I decided to go for the 1266 TC. These beasts are amazing! I talked with Justin and he was able to get a pair of Super Conductor cables custom made to my specified length. The upgrade I think is definitely worth it. The quality of the cables are awesome, and I know the quality of the sound I'm listening to is reference level. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the included cables in the Lite package, and in fact they are amazing as well, the Super Conductors where just the icing on the cake. As far as fitting goes, I found a video on Abyss' youtube channel that focuses on setting up these particular headphones to your head-shape and listening preferences. Its amazing how much the sound can change with subtle changes on how you position this headphones. I am very satisfied with my purchase and with the excellent service as always from headamp!"
— Alfonso (5/5)
Make sure to buy the right electronics, and your brain will be blown
"* Extraordinarily clear sound staging * Pulls out a ton of detail of the mastering process - frequency and stereo isolation, subtle evidence of the sampling process, etc. * The sound feels 'real', detailed, and natural - comparable to a $700k Wilson Audio-based system (to my ears). * Beautiful sense of space and immersion * The sound can present as slightly v-shaped sometimes, especially with the XI Audio electronics. This is because of the intense bass and highs. The Abyss engineers will say that isn't true, and perhaps what I'm hearing is just a property of the mastering of the tracks I listen to - quite plausible. At any rate: pairing with the dCS Bartok largely clears that effect up. * They feel slightly odd on the head, because you leave a lot of open space b/w the cups and your head. Not uncomfortable, though not particularly comfortable like an ear muff either. Comfort isn't a detractor, but this isn't an area where these headphones shine. * Aesthetic is reminiscent of a tank - black metal with squared edges. * Adjustment options are sufficient, but could be improved. Particularly it is hard to get the height correct. Not deal breaking; just a minor comment. You MUST have a powerful headphone amp with these. I tried to pair them with the Focal Arche ($2500) for example, and they sounded horrid (v-shaped freq response, with flabby bass). Don't splurge for these guys without budgeting for the necessary electronics. Recommended: pair with the dCS Bartok w/headphone amp for an absolutely brain-blowing experience. Yes that's expensive, but compare it to the XI Audio Formula S + Powerman + and a worthy DAC - it isn't a terribly different price, but sounds vastly better (to my ears). The JPS Labs cable upgrade is noticeable, but not an objective improvement. I prefer its sound overall. It seems to bring out the mids and subdue the intensity of the highs (at least in my setup). This cable is much more pliable and comfortable to use compared to the stiff stock cable. It's pretty too. The wood box is great for transport and lined with felt. Pass on the leather bag, but give the cable upgrade a try. Abyss is quite responsive to email inquiries. They definitely take pride in their stuff and are willing to back it. They can walk you through choices for cable and electronics upgrades. Good people."
— MatthewB (5/5)
